XN000022-1996-05-30 — Page 22

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Hong Kong people to speak up to defend promised autonomy

The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, called upon the people of Hong Kong to put aside narrow sectional and self-interest and speak up and speak out to defend its institutions, its values and the autonomy promised to Hong Kong in the remaining days of the transition.

Speaking at the luncheon meeting of the Commonwealth Club and the Hong Kong Association of Northern California in San Francisco, USA, on Wednesday (May 29, San Francisco time), Mrs Chan said in the 12 years since Britain and China signed the Joint Declaration, both sovereign powers had worked hard to make a reality of the promises in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.

"In the remaining days of our transition, it is the wish of all parties concerned, Britain, China and Hong Kong, to step up co-operation so that we can achieve a smooth transition," she said.

"I do not doubt the sincerity of Chinese leaders to fully implement the promises in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. But I am equally convinced that Hong Kong people will have to rely more and more on themselves to make a reality of the 'one country, two systems' concept.'

Mrs Chan said a large number of important agreements had been reached between the two sides to enable the future Special Administrative Region Government to truly exercise the promised high degree of autonomy.

These included the continuation of 200 international conventions and agreements, the setting up of Hong Kong's own Court of Final Appeal on 1 July 1997, and the financing of the new airport which will be operational in early 1998.

"It is a pity that the progress made with Chinese co-operation has not received nearly as much publicity as have our disagreements with China," Mrs Chan said.

She noted that the main outstanding question on the political front was the transition of the legislature.

"The Joint Declaration and the Basic Law both provide for the legislature of the HKSAR to be returned by elections," she said.

She said it was crucially important that elections for the legislative assembly of SAR were demonstrably free and fair so as to enjoy the community's confidence.